Gwendolyn F. Turner

For those like Gwendolyn F. Turner, there is no greater accomplishment than the ability to be able to assist the communities from which you came. This is why Turner, director of the Worldwide Supplier Diversity Program, lends her expertise to a number of minority-owned businesses and organizations, including the Institute for Supply Chain Management: Minority and Women Business Development Group and the Women’s Presidents Educational Organization.

“I’m most proud of the work that I do on a daily basis to help my company and also seek ways for minority and women business owners to get involved in the supply-chain process,” explains Turner.

The Chicago native, who received a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, joined Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, in 2001. Since obtaining her position with the company, Turner has been directly responsible for increased procurement spending with ethnically diverse and women-owned businesses over 10 percent annually. She’s also instituted policies and programs in Canada, the United Kingdom and China that encourage the use of diverse businesses and partnerships with local advocacy organizations.

But how does one who’s helped so many influential projects take flight stay grounded? Through faith, of course. Turner attributes much of her success to God, citing Romans 12:1-2 as one of her personal favorite motivational Scriptures.

“This passage reminds me of my responsibilities to the greater community and to my family,” Turner says. “It challenges me to keep my faith in the forefront of everything that I do in my life.”

It should come as no surprise that the business-savvy Turner would like to one day return to Chicago, if given the opportunity, to help support the inner city. Through her aspirations and efforts, Turner exemplifies the significant change in the world that one diligent person is able to make.